CityWide Sports Adult Softball
OFFICIAL LEAGUE RULES
2014
The City and County of Denver’s Adult Softball Leagues are governed by NSA rules with the following exceptions and modifications:
Note: The rules below supersede all NSA rules.
*It’s the responsibility of every player to review ALL NSA-Softballrules. For clarifications visit
1)LEAGUES are defined as follows:
Men’s D (Competitive): teams consisting of 10 to 20 male players, 18+ years old. *Exception: ONE female player is permitted to play on any Men’s D team.
Men’s E (Recreational): teams consisting of 10 to 20 male players, 18+ years old. *Exception: ONE female player is permitted to play on any Men’s E team.
Women’s (Recreational): teams consisting of 10 to 20 female players, 18+ years old.
Co-Ed (Recreational): teams consisting of 10 to 20 male and female players, 18+ years old. All teams must: match the gender-ratio of males to females (like 4 & 4 or 5 & 5) in the field, alternate males and females batting, and maintain a line-up at all times.
*Exception: Teams may have as many females as they choose in their line-up.
NOTE:
1. All leagues will use the NSA pitch-height rule: 6 - 10 ft (6 ft Minimum, 10 ft Maximum).
2. Official game balls must have the following specs; 12” - .44 C.O.R. - 375 lb. compression.
2)UNIFORM REQUIREMENTS: Matching jerseys are recommended for league play however, it is not required. All players must have an easily distinguishable jersey number. Players may wear hats/bandanas in whichever manner or style they choose.
3)ROSTERS: A roster may contain up to 20 players, 18+ years old. Teams may add players at anytime during the season. All players must play in a minimum of two (2) league games in order to be eligible for postseason play. Players may not be added if they play with another team in the same league. Managers are responsible for keeping the team roster updated. Rosters are due at your first league game.
4)BATTING LINE-UPS: Teams may bat up to 20 players in their line-up. The free substitution rule will be in effect and players can rotate as often as they would like as long as they do not exceed the 20 person limit and the original batting order is not affected.
5)GAME TIME: Games will be 55 minutes or seven (7) complete innings with the following exceptions:
A 10 run rule will apply after 5 complete innings (or 4 ½ if the home team is ahead).
A 15 run rule will apply after 4 complete innings (or 3 ½ if the home team is ahead).
A 20 run rule will apply after 3 complete innings (or 2 ½ if the home team is ahead).
* All games will allow for a minimum of 40 minutes of actual play.
Extra Inning(s) (If tied after 55 min. or seven (7) innings):
One Pitch At-Bats!
- Strike = out
- Foul ball = out
- Ball = walk
- Hit = hit (single through homerun)
The 1st extra inning: the last-out batter from the previous inning starts at 2nd base.
The 2nd extra inning: If teams are still tied at the conclusion of the 1st extra inning, the last-out batter from the previous inning starts at 3rd base.
6)A GRACE PERIOD of 10 Minutes will be given if a team does not have the minimum number of players (8) required to begin. The game clock will begin at the scheduled start time or after the umpire completes the pre-game conference. If a team still does not have the enough players after the 10-minute grace period has expired they will be forced to forfeit.
7)8 & 10 RULE: All teams must have a minimum of 8 players and a maximum of 10 players in the field throughout the entire game. If a player must leave the game for an injury and cannot be replaced by a legal substitute, there will be no batting-order penalty. However, if a player leaves the game due to an ejection and cannot be replaced by a legal substitute, they will take an out each time the ejected player was scheduled to bat.
* Two or more males may not bat consecutively at any time in Co-Ed play.
8)A FREE SUBSTITUTION rule applies to all leagues. Any player removed during the game may re-enter the game as long as that player resumes their spot in the original batting order.
9)COURTESY RUNNER; only one per inning, per gender and must be same-gender as batter.
10)An INFIELD FLY, as is stated in the NSA rule book, is in effect at all times during play. The purpose of the infield fly rule is to prevent a defensive team from purposely dropping or not catching an infield fly with the intention to try to turn a double play.
11)BALL-STRIKE COUNT & FOUL OUTS: All batters begin at-bats with a 1 & 1 count.
A strike is called for each foul ball hit. With two (2) strikes, there is one courtesy foul ball, and the next foul ball after that is a foul out.
12)JEWELRY is not permitted anywhere on your person, with two (2) exceptions:
1) Wedding Bands: Players can play with a single wedding band. NO additional bands or rings are permitted, but they must be covered by tape, fabric, or other material that would prevent them from catching on anyone or anything.
2) Stud Earrings: Players can play with stud earrings (NO dangling), but they must be covered by tape, fabric, or other material that would prevent them from catching on anyone or anything.
Managers will be issued a team warning at the start of the game. Any jewelry found on any player during game time will result in that player receiving an “OUT” for his or her at bat.
13)BATS exceeding 1.20 BPF will not be allowed. The NSA Bat Confiscation rule is in effect for all leagues. Any player using an illegal bat will be ejected and subject to suspension. All bats used in play are subject to inspection and possible confiscation. Players must submit to all bat inspection requests. Visit a complete list of legal bats.
14)SLIDE or SURRENDER: When a base runner is approaching a base in which a fielder is in possession of the ball or is in a position to receive a ball in flight to them, the approaching base runner must slide or surrender him/herself. If a base runner fails to do either of the above options, they will be called out and/or ejected. Accordingly, the fielder may not intentionally impede the path of a base runner. If this rule is violated, the base runner will be awarded the next base in line. If any player runs into any opposing player with great force, the offending player will be called out and ejected.
15)WALKS & FAIR-PLAY LINEin Co-Ed Leagues: Male batters will take two bases on all walks, and the following female batter may choose to hit or take the open first base. When a female player is batting, no outfielders (regardless of their gender) may cross the designated line visible in the outfield prior to the individual at bat making contact with the ball. This line runs parallel with both the fence and the infield. Any violations of this rule will result in the female batter being awarded one base for the defensive infraction.
16)THE MALE DOMINATION RULE does not apply in Co-Ed League play. There are NO restrictions for fielders regarding gender – Male and female players may play any position.
17)UNSPORTSMAN-LIKE CONDUCT: Throwing of bats will not be permitted. Profanity/vulgarity toward players, field-supervisors, scorekeepers, and umpires will not be permitted. Managers or team representatives will receive their only warning at the pre-game conference. There is ZERO TOLERANCE for acts of unsportsmanlike conduct.
18)HOMERUNS: OTF (over-the-fence) allowances (all additional OTF homeruns are outs):
Men’s D – three (3)
Men’s E – one (1)
Co-Ed – one (1)
NOTE:
- Homeruns do NOT have to be run-out by the batter nor any runner(s). Please observe the “Hit & Sit” rule to speed-up the game.
- Three (3) game balls will be provided per game.
- It is the responsibility of each team to retrieve their homerun and foul balls.
19)NO SMOKING or ALCOHOL of any kind will be permitted in the dugouts or on the playing field. No glass containers of any kind are allowed in the park. Offending players or teams will be ejected. One warning will be given to managers at the pre-game conference.
20)City and County of Denver field supervisors, umpire(s), and other league officials have the right to remove any player from a game if in violation of league rules, park rules, or codes of conduct.
21)Players must provide a valid Colorado Driver’s License or Colorado ID card in the event of a roster challenge. The use of illegal player(s) will result in a forfeit. Remember, players may be added only if there is a roster spot for them and they do not play with another team in the exact same league.
22)CITWIDE SPORTS WEBSITE: League information, schedules and standings for softball and all other adult sports is available at .
23)CITYWIDE SPORTS WEATHER LINE will be updated by 4:00 p.m. daily. 720-913-0715.
Please utilize this service as Colorado weather can be unpredictable. The weather line may be updated several times each day, so please check it one (1) hour prior to your scheduled start time to see if there are any changes or cancellations.
Denver CityWide Sports
PARTICIPANT CODE OF CONDUCT
The City and County of Denver’s Participant Code of Conduct applies to any player, manager, coach, sponsor or anyone affiliated with the team. Remember, although competitive in nature, we are all here to recreate and be observed by friends, family, and other citizens of Denver. Our goal is to maintain a program we all can be proud of.
1)No player, manager, coach, or sponsor shall bump, push, shove, lay hands on, strike or threaten other participants, umpires, league officials, scorekeepers, or any employees of the program.
2)No player, manger, coach, or sponsor shall make derogatory remarks or statements about decision rendered by the game’s officials. Protests of rules are allowed, but only in regard to application or interpretation (not judgment calls). The team manager or coach must file a written protest to CityWide Sports Review Board within 48 hours. The review board will make a decision within 72 hours from receiving the protest.
3)No player, manager, coach or sponsor shall be engaged in “soft toss” hitting or throwing the ball in any manner against the field fence fabric.
4)On site reports will be completed for all ejections. The CityWide Sports Review Board will review all ejection report forms and determine if any further actions are warranted. Written notification will be sent out to all involved parties within 72 hours
5)No player, manager, coach, or sponsor shall participate in the game when inebriated. This includes the dugout as well as the playing field.
NOTE: VIOLATIONS OF ANY OF THE ABOVE RULES OR CODE OF CONDUCT MAY RESULT IN REMOVAL FROM THE PROGRAM.
City and County of Denver
Parks and Recreation Department
CityWide Sports
Please send any questions, comments, or concerns to CityWide Sports Staff:
Matt Draper – CityWide Sports Supervisor
Thomas Almeida – CityWide Sports Coordinator
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For additional information about any of our leagues visit: